It’s a mystery to me why they weren’t taking proactive steps to move structures,” said Syracuse University associate professor Sarah Pralle.

By SETH BORENSTEIN Even before the Central Texas floods that killed more than 100 people, the state was by far the leader in U.S. flood deaths due partly to geography that can funnel rainwater

A flash flood warning is in effect until 9 a.m. for Boston and several communities south of the city, including Brockton, Quincy, and Randolph, officials said Thursday morning. The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch that will remain in effect until 4 p.m. for Rhode Island and eastern portions of Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Boston's weather clears up post-flooding, with sunny skies and highs in the low 80s expected, and a warm week ahead.

The disappointing surprise is that while the standard home insurance policy does cover fire and wind damage, even good property insurance typically doesn’t cover things like flooding and earthquakes, which usually require a special and separate policy for each. Here are the things to know about flood insurance.

If you’re experiencing flooding in your area, or were impacted during your morning commute, we want to see your photos and videos. Fill out the form below to share.

BRAINTREE, Mass. — Drenching downpours quickly turned highways and streets in eastern Massachusetts into rivers, just as traffic started to build for the Thursday morning commute. A large part of Interstate 93 in the Milton-Quincy area was underwater before 7 a.m. as torrential rain moved through.

Catastrophic floods can be difficult to prepare for. Sometimes evacuation is the right call, but if it’s too late the best bet is to find higher ground nearby. The stakes can be high, because a flash flood may give those in its path only minutes or seconds to react.